Candidates

Education, Teaching & Training Apprenticeships

Some people assume that education only happens in the classroom. Of course, that isn't the case at all. Did you know a significant part of the education
industry gets based outside of the classroom? The industry includes working with people and groups of all ages.

Education also includes the training sector. This is where people get taught all kinds of skills, whatever their age or needs. The skills they learn might
be in an educational setting. Or they could get taught at their workplace, for instance.

The industry covers people that teach in other settings. For example, some trainers might teach on a one-to-one basis. While others may do so as part of
a course. Here are examples of the different types of education and teaching apprenticeships on offer:

Learning And Development Apprenticeships

Are you keen to work in an area where training and development get offered in the workplace? If so, you might wish to consider a learning and development
apprenticeship.

The training and development of people in the workplace is a growing field. It's a sector where jobs are in demand for skilled trainers to offer teaching
services. As a learning and development apprentice, you will learn how to deliver training programmes. Your employer will help you to do so both to
individuals and groups of people.

Once you complete your apprenticeship, you could get a job working for a training firm. You might even find work as an in-house trainer for a particular
organisation.

Teaching Support Apprenticeships

Do you prefer working in a traditional school classroom environment? If so, a teaching support apprenticeship is for you! Here, you will learn how to support
teachers and work with groups of children and other people.

A teaching support apprentice will work under the close supervision of a teacher. The work you will do will depend on how the teacher in question plans
their lessons. In a typical apprenticeship, you will learn:

●How to supervise arts and crafts activities;

●How to organise and arrange field trips for children; and

●How to read out to the class.

The more advanced apprenticeships will offer extra responsibilities like planning and carrying out lessons. There are many teaching support apprenticeship
opportunities. Some of the most common ones include:

●Teaching Assistant Apprenticeships;

●Classroom Assistant Apprenticeships; and

●Learning Support Apprenticeships.

Children And Young People's Workforce Apprenticeships

It's important for all children to get the right education as they grow. This gives them the building blocks for establishing successful careers as an
adult. It also teaches them important life skills they can use in many different scenarios.

Apprenticeships where individuals work with kids and young people are highly sought-after. There is a huge demand for trained and skilled professionals
that know how to work with young people.

The job of each apprentice is to ensure children get looked after and are happy and nourished. They must also help kids grow their social and practical
skills.

Advice Centre

Exam Season is looming and instead of being able to chill
out, you find yourself being pulled back by revision and pressure of exams – right? Don’t fear, there are a few things you can do to ensure you don’t
crack under the pressure, because, let’s face it who wants wrinkles before 18?

1.Plan your time

To organise your busy schedule, create a timetable to help map out what subjects you need to revise for and when. If you decide to start revising at 10am,
be strict with yourself and stick to it – but remember to also schedule time to yourself to either socialise or take a little break every hour. You’ll
thank yourself after you get the exam results you really worked for.

2.Have a revision technique

Having a revision technique that works for you is a tried and tested method of acing your exams! An example of a technique that works with most people
is making notes in class so that when you reach home, you can read over them and re-write them all neatly into a second notepad. Doing this will help
you get those facts to stick in your brain and hopefully identify any gaps of knowledge for you to improve.

3.Test yourself

Training your brain by testing your knowledge and memory is a great way to find out what things you need to revise on a little more before the all-important
exams. The best way to ensure the information has entered your brain is by answering questions (no cheating) and marking them to get a realistic result.

4.Get sleep the night before

It’s all and well to take a break from the books but if you are getting little to none sleep, you may find this impacts your performance and memory. If
you are thinking about going out, as mellow as it sounds, try to go out during the day so that you are not tempted to have any late nights. Remember
you have control over your future and there will always be other nights to go out – so save them until after your exams are over

5.Keep your options open

Following these handy tips will help you master your revision techniques and ace your exams, however, it’s also a good idea to keep other options in mind.
We take applications all year for conditional apprenticeship offers, in the digital and tech industry. The roles vary from IT Software Developers to
Digital Marketing Assistants - there's something for everyone!

Click here to find out more about the apprenticeship programmes we offer and employers we work with.

Today more people than ever are taking the apprenticeship route, with recent statistics showing that there was a record number
of more than 900,000 new apprenticeship starts in 2015-2016! With the Government committing to invest £2.5 billion into apprenticeships by 2020
and the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy next month, things are only going to get better…

Apprentices are being increasingly recognised as being a valuable asset to any company and, since the roles involve combining on-the-job training with
off-the-job learning, they are a great way for employers to grow their skills base effectively. Learning takes place in context, providing a real
understanding of the chosen industry and combining both practical skills and knowledge together in a way that university education simply cannot
compete with.

The growth in the apprenticeship market has been significant over the past few years. The Government are using the schemes to increase the country’s
productivity and simultaneously improve employment prospects for young people. They have therefore committed to deliver an additional 3 million
apprenticeships by 2020, and at the same time, increase the standards of the training opportunities on offer. April 2017 also marks the introduction
of the Government’s new Apprenticeship Levy, which is essentially a tax on UK employers to help fund the training. It is hoped that this will motivate
employers to offer more apprenticeships, further increasing the opportunities available to young people today.

Most importantly, the apprenticeships themselves ARE actually working! 90% of apprentices go on to secure a job after their scheme finishes, which
is a huge contrast to the fact that almost 60% of UK university graduates are in jobs deemed to be non-graduate roles. Parents and teachers are
now also much more open to the idea of apprenticeships, no longer only focusing on the A Level and university routes.

There are so many success stories out there from people who have chosen the apprenticeship route – you only have to look at all the events from National
Apprenticeship Week 2017 to find them! And with all the changes over the next few months, you would be crazy not to at least consider it as an
option…

To kick-start your apprenticeship journey today, please feel free to get in touch with our friendly AIM Advisors on 01865 986 781 or send a request through on our Contact Us form today!

This week it is the 10th National Apprenticeship Week! NAW brings together apprentices, employers and training
providers to discuss and celebrate the successes and positive impact that apprenticeships have had across all industries throughout the UK. To
celebrate the event, AIM Apprenticeships is offering you 5 days of support by sharing past blog posts and advice that students
have found helpful every day this week!

Here are the 5 posts that we are going to be sharing across our social media this week!

Did you know that statistically only 10% of applicants on average make it through to the interview stage? But don’t let that scare you. If you’ve been
invited for an interview you have got something that the employer values, so make sure you prepare by reading this post!

Assessment centres is a common recruitment tool that employers use to select certain criteria from their candidate pool in order to meet the employee
requirements of their organisation. Check out these top tips.

Want to study for a degree but earn a salary at the same time? With a degree apprenticeship, you can! Degree apprenticeships
were launched in September 2015 and can allow you to obtain a full Bachelor’s degree (Level 6) or a Master’s degree (Level 7). Since recently we’ve
been getting asked a lot of questions about these types of apprenticeships and how they work, we thought we’d lay out exactly what they are and
what you need to know.

Degree apprenticeship programmes combine full-time work with part-time university study. As an apprentice you would be employed throughout the programme
and will work a minimum of 30 hours per week. The rest of the time is spent studying for the degree qualification and can involve flexible learning
modes like day or block release, distance or blended learning. Generally the courses take between 3 and 6 years to complete, depending on the level
and type of apprenticeship being completed.

There are currently 24 degree apprenticeships on offer:

Chartered Surveying

Chartered Manager

Electronic Systems Engineering

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Software Development

Defence Systems Engineering

Laboratory Science

Nuclear Science

Power Systems

Digital and Technology Solutions

Automotive Engineering

Banking Relationship Manager

Construction

Technical Support Engineering

Product Design and Development

Bespoke Tailoring

Licensed Conveyancer

Dental Technician

Healthcare Assistant Practitioner

Chartered Legal Executive

Solicitor

Operations Manager

Laboratory Science

Outside Broadcasting Engineering

There are numerous benefits of doing a degree apprenticeship. Firstly, the course fees are split between the government and the employer, so you can
gain a degree-level qualification without having to incur the costs of doing so yourself. On top of this, you are also paid a wage or salary throughout
the course. Additionally, as you’re entering the industry before graduates, you can gain a head start in your chosen field and will have greater
skills than those who only start post-university.

However, since these types of apprenticeships are still relatively new, there are only a limited number of vacancies currently available. We would
therefore advise you to still apply for university through the traditional UCAS route if you really have your heart set on getting a degree to
avoid disappointment.

If you’re interested in taking this route and you want to find out more information or have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with our
friendly AIM Advisors on 01865 986 781 or send a request through on our Contact Us form today!

The National Apprenticeship Week is coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service and it will be taking place this year
from the 6-10 of March, which means that it is now less than a month away! The event brings together apprentices, employers and training providers
to discuss and celebrate the successes and positive impact that apprenticeships have had across all industries throughout the UK. And since this
year is the 10th year of the event, it is definitely going to be a good one!

The week will include hundreds of events across the UK to showcase both apprentices and apprentice employers. The theme for 2017 is a ‘ladder of opportunity’,
focusing on celebrating stories of career progression from traineeships through to higher and degree apprenticeships. The aim is to inspire and
encourage even more people to choose to go the apprenticeship route – using it as a ladder of opportunity to a great career.

During the week the AIM Apprenticeships team will be visiting over 16 schools, getting involved with the students and encouraging them to consider
taking the apprenticeship route when they leave school. Although we recognise the importance of the NAW and praise how it gets everyone involved,
this is something that we are doing all year round! We are visiting multiple schools each week, promoting the advantages of apprenticeships and
offering students advice and guidance of how to choose the career path that suits them best.

To see events that are happening during the week near you, check out this website. We are really looking forward
to getting involved with NAW 2017 and all that it has to offer – watch this space or follow us on Twitter to see how we get on!

You’ve probably already heard lots at school or college about the importance of gaining work experience, but we
know that lots of you are still unsure about the benefits of doing so. Here are some of the reasons that you should make sure you are taking part
in work experience activities that will boost your CV and support your development.

Anybody is eligible to do work experience, regardless of age. It’s not limited to only while you are at school. The time period can also vary and can
be anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks, depending on the individual and also the employer offering the opportunity. Some organisations will
have dedicated time periods, such as the summer, where they offer work experience programs. You’ll need to do your research to find out which ones
are available nearby that suit you and that you’re interested in.

If, like most students, you’ve never have a job before, gaining some great work experience can really give you an insight into what the working world
is like and will mean that you are better prepared for when the time comes around! If there’s a particular industry or job that you’re interested
in, work experience gives you the chance to try it out and get an insight into what it’s like before you fully commit to it. The working environment
will be very different to what you’ve experienced before at school or college, but these opportunities can help you to discover if you are perhaps
more suited to an office environment or something more active. Based on what you find out, you’ll be able to make more informed choices about your
future career path.

Of course, work experience also looks great to any potential employers when you are later trying to get a job. Having evidence on your CV that you
have taken the time to seek out opportunities that develop your skills and understanding show that you’ve thought about your future and that you
are a proactive and motivated individual. Relevant experience will help you to differentiate yourself and stand out from competitors when applying
for future roles.

Lastly, if you are successful and do find some work experience, then make sure you make the experience worthwhile! Ask lots of questions, as this will
show the employer that you are eager to learn and get involved. Try and interact with lots of different people within the organisation you’re in,
as this will give you a broader view of what the job or industry you are interested in is really like to work in! Finally, just make sure you enjoy
it!

As I’m sure most of you know, the UCAS deadline for university applications is this Sunday 15th January!
However, some of you might have chosen not to apply, or you might be thinking of applying for both the university and apprenticeship routes. If
this is the case, it’s now time to start your apprenticeship applications! Lots of companies have started to open their application processes ready
for this summer’s intake, so here are some top tips to keep in mind whilst completing your forms.

1. Include all relevant contact details

Make sure to include all relevant information about yourself, including your full name, address, contact number and email address. Make sure that your
email address is something professional like just your name, as you want to make sure that you can make a good impression from the outset. Also,
ensure that your voicemail is an appropriate message and that you check it regularly.

2. Do your research and tailor your application

Research the company thoroughly and make it clear that you are interested in them specifically. Don’t send the same application out to lots of companies
– employers will be able to easily spot when you’ve done a generic application and they then simply won’t consider you. Check out the company’s
values and relevant news and use these to show how you are a suitable and credible candidate.

3. Show your skills

Make it clear how your skills match what the company is looking for. Think about including examples which show how you’ve used those skills in similar
environments before, as this will help you to appear knowledgeable and suitable for the role.

4. Check, check and check again!

Finally, make sure you read and re-read your application over multiple times before sending it! If you can, get a teacher or parent to check it over
too to spot any spelling or grammar mistakes, as employers will be less likely to consider you if your application is full of errors. Printing
it out and reading it on paper will make it easier to spot mistakes.

The good news is, apprenticeship applications are far more straightforward than the UCAS process and if you follow these tips, you’ll have no problem
in getting them done well! Please reach out to us if you need any additional guidance – we are always here to help!

Now that it is officially 2017, we know that lots of you will be thinking about what new year’s resolutions you’re going to make
for the coming year. This week we therefore thought we’d provide you with 5 great resolutions that we think could help you to prepare for future
success during an apprenticeship scheme!

1. Be more productive

We know that it can be easy to procrastinate, but as an apprentice you need to be as productive as you can be! As you’ll need to balance work commitments
and your apprenticeship assignments, knowing how to use your time efficiently and juggle multiple tasks and priorities will be essential.

2. Stay organised

Whether you’re at school or college or in full-time work, you always need to keep on top of things. Make sure that you know what your schedule is for
the day and that everything you need to use is kept somewhere that you know where you can find it easily. When you do an apprenticeship, you’ll
need to be organised with your work alongside your daily role, so nailing your organisation skills now will really help you in the future.

3. Learn something new

As a young person entering the labour market, you’ll need to be constantly adapting and learning to keep your CV up to date and competitive in the
market. As an apprentice, you’ll be learning new things every day, so starting the process now will help you adapt to this more easily when you
start your scheme.

4. Keep up to date

It’s important that you keep up to date with what’s going on around you. Make sure you’re aware of the latest stories and trends by keeping on top
of the latest news.

5. “AIM” for success

And finally, make sure that you’re always aiming high! You can do anything that you set your mind to! Set yourself goals that you’d like to complete
throughout the year to challenge yourself.

Last month we finally launched our BRAND NEW Aim Apprenticeships digital app! Here’s why we think that you should download it today!
Firstly, the app contains a digital version of the workbook that we’ve been giving out to you all in your schools.

The guide covers everything that
you need to know when you’re choosing your apprenticeship route, including information about all the different sectors and roles that are available,
why current candidates have chosen the routes that they have, and what the benefits of choosing to do an apprenticeship are in comparison to alternative
routes such as University. There’s also lots of information AIM and how our team can help you along the way. Having the app means that all this
information can be accessed easily and at any time that suits you.

You can access the AIM Apprenticeships website directly through the app, so you can easily find any additional information that you need. Here you
can also create your own account with us, where you can select the industries and sectors that you’re interested in. This means that as soon as
we have new vacancies available in those areas, we can send them straight through to you.

Finally, we know that your parents are often concerned about what steps you are going to take next in your career and by therefore encouraging them
to also download the app and read the information, a lot of their questions can be answered!

To download our app now search for ‘AIM APPRENTICESHIPS’ in the Android or Apple app store!

With Black Friday just around the corner, we know you’ll be looking for the best deals on offer with all kinds of different
companies. The same thing happens when you’re looking for your apprenticeship – you will be searching around to find the best deal that suits you and
your needs. However, we know that sometimes it can be difficult to know exactly what to consider when looking for an apprenticeship scheme, so this
week we thought we’d break it down for you.

Here are some top things that you could look at when searching for your perfect apprenticeship role.

1. Industry

Of course, you’ll need to choose what sector or industry it is that you want to go into. There are apprenticeships available in over 170 industries,
so there really is something there to suit everyone… from engineering, digital marketing, sales, childcare, fitness and more. Most importantly,
you need to make sure that you pick something you’re genuinely interested in, as you’re going to be doing it all day every day. It might be worth
thinking about things that you’ve enjoyed at school or what you think you’re good at. Always keep an open mind, as there is bound to be a tonne
of areas that you’ve never even considered, but they might be perfect for you!

2. Location

Something you’ll definitely need to consider is the location of the apprenticeships. Lots are available nationwide, but some may not be, so if you
don’t want to relocate or move away from home then you’ll need to limit your search to vacancies available in your local area. You can use our
search tool to look for apprenticeships by location HERE.

3. Level

One of the most important things to choose is the level of apprenticeship that you’ll be doing. There are various ones available and it typically the
level you’ll do will depend on what qualifications you’ve got already. Don’t worry if you’re not too sure which one suits you best, as the AIM
experts are here to help you decide. Here are the main levels:

Intermediate – This is equivalent to 5 passes at GCSE level and is for anyone who doesn’t gain the 5 A*-C grades You can complete your functional
skills (English and Science) alongside your normal apprenticeship role to help you top up.

Advanced – If you’ve already got your GCSE passes, you’ll most likely be looking at an advanced apprenticeship. This is equivalent to 2 passes
at A Level.

Higher – These are the next step up for if you’ve already got your 2 A Level passes. This takes you up to an NVQ level 4 plus or a foundation degree
type level.

4. Company

Finally, you’ll need to make sure that the company you’re choosing suits your needs. Both large and small companies offer apprenticeship schemes, but
the daily working environment is likely to be very different in each. To get a feel for the different companies, attend a careers fair and speak
to the advisors on the stands about what you can expect.

Hopefully these tips have helped to outline key things that you need to consider when hunting for the perfect apprenticeship deal for you! As always,
feel free to reach out to the AIM experts if you have any questions or would like any free advice.